Bell folding tent

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a bell folding tent typically comprised of awnings and framework consisted of poles, wherein the framework includes a top static rib-hub built upon the top end of a main stick setting on the center vertically, and hanged on with radial ribs, which is combined of several segments and connectors connecting said adjacent segments together, a low sliding rib-hub put on the main stick in sliding fitting for hanging up one ends of braces, the another ends of said braces pivoted on the first segments of the ribs respectively; an elastic piece is set upon the main stick between said low sliding rib-hub with the top end and the bottom end of the main stick with the low end. Due to the saved restoring energy of the stretched elastic piece, as opening the tent, the low sliding rib-hub is pulled down continuously and kept the inner ends of the braces having a downward pulling force so that the outer ends of braces are kept a strutting force upward to support all ribs to brace the tent without any falling down, and not need to attach any holding device, and the service life is increased greatly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a tent, and more particularly to a bell folding tent in umbrella-style.

2. Description of Prior Art

In accordance with the conventional tent being common outfit used for mountaineering, fishing and camping, and so on, they can be divided into A-shaped, bell, house, cave styles. According to the pitching or striking way of a tent, they may be divided into conventional pole framework folding tent and umbrella framework folding tent.

For the bell folding tent, the pitching or striking way is similar to the way of opening or shutting an umbrella. The common structure, as shown in FIG. 1, includes poles and awnings A, wherein a top rib-hub 10 is set upon the top end of the main stick, and hanged on with radial ribs 40, which is combined of several segments (most commonly being three segments) connected with rib couplers 60 for facilitating to fold up, and said awnings A are fixed on the radial ribs 40 respectively, and the bottom ends of said radial ribs 40 is fastened with the rims of the awnings from the outside by rivets, so that the bell tent can be opened as same as the way of opening an umbrella.

Referring to FIG. 2, below the said top rib-hub 10, a low rib-hub 20 is fit on the main stick in easy slide fit, as similar as the top rib-hub 10, said low sliding rib-hub 20 is hanged on with radial braces 30 for strutting the first segment of ribs 40. A spring 50 is put on the main stick between the top static rib-hub 10 and the low sliding rib-hub 20, as in shutting state, said spring 50 is in compressed state; and as opening, under the restoring force of the spring 50 the low sliding rib-hub 20 is pushed to slide down meanwhile the braces 30 brace the first segments of the radial ribs 40 up automatically.

Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, said rib coupler 60 is pivoted by the first coupling piece 61′ and the second coupling piece 62′, and they are respectively retained on the tip ends of the adjacent segments 41 of radial ribs 40, for carrying out the folding function. Said first coupling piece 61′ is drilled an open slot at the external end, and a hanging hole 611′ is built upon the sides of the open slot crossly, and a pair of guide slots 612′ on the internal sides of the open slot respectively, and a locating pin 614′ is built on the blind end of the open slot outward; said second coupling piece 62′ having a slide slot 621′ is inserted into the open slot of the first coupling piece 61′ with external end, and pivoted by hanging the slide slot 621′ on a pin to said hanging hole 611′, so that they are connected together in hanging joint, for locating coordinating to the locating pin 614′ a retaining hole 622′ is built upon the tip end of the second coupling piece 62′, and coordinating to the guide slots 612′ a pair of sliding pins 623′ are respectively built upon the both sides of the second coupling piece 62′ for sliding in by sliding the sliding pins 623′ into the guide slots 612′ from the open to the blind end, the retaining hole 622′ of the second coupling piece 62′ is fit on the locating pin 614′ of the first coupling piece 61′, the tow coupling pieces 61′ 62′ of said rib coupler 60 are locked, therefore plugging or withdrawing and turning the two adjacent segments 41 can carry out stretching or folding the ribs 40.

According to above description, we can find some shortcomings existing in the conventional bell folding tent as followings:

-   -   1. after said spring 50 is released in free state to open the         tent, all the braces 30 are kept in level state so that the         radial ribs 40 can not be braced in the final place for staying         out completely, so the user has to pull down the low rib-hub 20         along the main stick so that the braces 30 are inclined to         outward up for bracing the radial ribs 40 in place completely,         hence two steps have to be gone for opening the tent, it is not         very convenience to operating;     -   2. if tending to open the tent completely in one step, after         opening the tent, the spring 50 has to be kept a certain         compressed rest for pushing the low sliding rib-hub 20 down         continuously to make the braces 30 strut the first segments 41         of ribs 40 in place completely; but even if getting the certain         compressed rest, and a holding device has to be built on a         proper position for holding the low sliding rib-hub 20 in, the         rest compressing force of the spring 50 and the strutting force         coming from the braces 30 require the holding device strong         enough to stand up, but in practicing, after a long time, the         holding device is often worn out so that the strutting braces 30         can not stand on, so the tent is fell down;     -   3. due to exposing to the air, the spring 50 is easy to be         etched by rain to rusty, further to stick the rustiness into the         cloth of awnings to affect the exterior of the tent, also affect         the service life;     -   4. said low sliding rib-hub 20 is put on the main stick in free         sliding and turning, although it is unable to be turned as         bracing up the tent under the restrict coming from the braces         30, but as shutting the awnings are folded surrounding the main         stick, said low sliding rib-hub 20 may be turned an angle         relatively to the top static rib-hub 10 pivoting round the main         stick, and because the outer end of the braces 30 is connected         with the radial ribs 40, so the braces 30 is distorted as the         low sliding rib-hub 20 is turned, and is easy to occur the roots         of the braces 20 pivoted on the low sliding rib-hub broken off,         further to affect the use in normal;     -   5. the two adjacent segments 41 of the rib 40 is connected and         located by sliding and holding the sliding pins 623′ and the         locating pin 614′ into corresponded guide slots 612′ and         retaining hole 622′, so the connector 60 should stand the         strutting force as bracing up the tent, especially to the tent         much bigger than an umbrella, the strutting force is also much         bigger so that during a long term the sliding pins 623′ and the         locating pin 614′ are worn out and broken off to damage, further         to affect the service life of the tent; on the other hand, the         similar strutting points may be exerted an extra force as shown         in FIG. 4, the both coupling pieces 61′ 62′ are easy to be fell         off, so that the tent is fell down too;     -   6. the unfolding volume of said conventional bell folding tent         is commonly not big, due to the sake of the rib set 40; if         enlarging the unfolding volume of the tent, one way is to extend         the segments of the rib, and another way is to increase the         number of the segments of the rib; so the former way increases         the axial volume in shutting state, the later way may increase         the radial volume in shutting state; therefore the lengthen and         number of the segments should be in a balance, recommend in here         as the segment in a proper lengthen, the number of them should         be three, so that the shutting volume of the tent is not too         big.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore a main object of the present invention to provide a bell folding tent that is pitched or stroked as an umbrella, especially to open the tent just only one action in one time without building up a holding device.

It is a next other object of the present invention to provide a bell folding tent, in which all the adjacent segments of the ribs can be connected tightly and smoothly with longer service life.

It is a next other object of the present invention to provide a bell folding tent, which's extend area is further enlarged without increasing the volume of the folded tent.

For achieving the above-mentioned objects, the present invention provides a resolution, which is typically comprised of awnings and framework consisted of poles, wherein the framework includes a top static rib-hub built upon the top end of a main stick setting on the center vertically, and hanged on with radial ribs, which is combined of several segments and connectors connecting said adjacent segments together, a low sliding rib-hub put on the main stick in sliding fitting for hanging up one ends of braces, the another ends of said braces pivoted on the first segments of the ribs respectively; a spring is set upon the main stick between said low sliding rib-hub with the top end and the bottom end of the main stick with the low end.

Said main stick is a tube with an open bottom end, a pair of axial opposite through slots are built upon the side wall, whereby said low sliding rib-hub is attached on the main stick with a joint screw setting on the low sliding rib-hub over the diameter crossing the two axial slots; said spring is set on the hollow cave of said main stick, and fastened on the joint screw with the top end.

A bottom cap is used for setting on the open bottom end of the main stick with another joint screw; meanwhile the low end of the spring is fastened on the bottom cap at the bottom end of the main stick by the joint screw too.

A connector connecting the second and third segments of rib includes the first coupling piece and the second coupling piece, within the first coupling piece has an open slot with a pair of retaining holes on the side walls built upon the outer end, said second coupling piece can be plugged into the open slot of the first coupling piece, and has a long slotted hole pivoted on the retaining holes of the first coupling piece via a pivot pin; said first coupling piece extends a pair of projected steps built upon the insides of side walls of the open slot from the round of the retaining holes to the inner; said second coupling piece has a couple of catching beds built upon the both sides below said long slotted hole for touching against the projected steps of the first coupling piece.

Said first and second segments are connected by a dual-pivot connector.

Said rib is combined of four segments, the last two segments are in contraction joint as telescoping jib, and a locating device set upon the both parts for preventing them from slipping relatively.

Said locating device is comprised of a spring and catcher set upon the inside of the inner segment, and a hole corresponding to the catchers built upon the outer segment.

As utilizing above-mentioned project, there are following advantages existing:

-   -   1. because the restore energy of the spring is saved under         stretching state, as opening the tent, also by taking the         advantages of restoring force, the bell tent is not only opened         automatically, but also the elastic piece continuously pulls the         low sliding rib-hub downward without any extra force coming from         human assistance, to keep the inner ends of the braces be pulled         downward to strut the first segments of ribs upward with the         outer ends stably without falling down happened, and said         holding device is not needed any more, and the service life is         increased, pitching the tent is only in one step;     -   2. because the elastic piece is set up in the hollow cave of the         inside of the main stick in sealing state without exposing to         air, it not only protects the elastic piece and increases the         service life, but also efficiently preventing the elastic piece         from staining and printing on the cloth of the awnings;     -   3. by a joint screw crossing the axial slots, said low sliding         rub-hub is mounted on the main stick in sliding fit without         turning, it is not only to give the play to guiding function,         but also to prevent the low sliding rib-hub from turning,         further to avoid braces breaking off occurred by yawing;     -   4. as opening the tent, the second coupling piece is fastened on         the first coupling piece by the catching beds touching against         the projected steps fully, so that the both coupling pieces can         not be turned any more relatively, the much bigger contacting         area than the conventional similar strutting point can make the         connection of the segment connector more stability and toughly,         overcoming the shortcoming of the strutting pin wearing out, the         service life is increased greatly.     -   5. the rib of the present invention is comprised of four         segments, and the last two segments are in contraction joint as         telescoping jib, and a locating device set upon the both parts         for preventing them from slipping relatively, so as pitching the         tent, the volume of the tent is greatly increased, but as         shutting, due to the contraction joint of last two segments, the         folded volume of the tent may not be increased.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a scheme of the prior art.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing the pitching or striking structure of the upper portion of the prior art.

FIG. 3 is an exploded sectional view showing the coupling pieces of the connector of segments of the prior art.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the connected state of the connector of the prior art.

FIG. 5 is a scheme of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view showing the pitching or striking structure of the upper portion of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing the folding state of the pitching or striking structure of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing the opening state of the pitching or striking structure of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an exploded view showing the connector of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a side view showing the connector in stretching state of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an exploded view showing the telescopic segments at the last end of the rib of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing the combined telescopic segments of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a scheme showing the pitching or striking action of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 5, a bell folding tent provided by the present invention is typically comprised of framework and awnings A, wherein the framework includes a top static rib-hub 1 built upon the top end of a main stick 7 setting on the center vertically, and hanged on with radial ribs 4, which is combined of several segments and connectors connecting said adjacent segments together for facilitating to striking, and said awnings A are fixed on the radial ribs 4 respectively, and the bottom ends of said radial ribs 4 is fastened with the rims of the awnings from the outside by rivets, so that the bell tent can be opened as same as the way of opening an umbrella.

Referring to FIG. 6, said top static rib-hub 1 is a disk with a central connecting hole 13, and proper number of hanging notches 12 built upon the rim in uniform distribution, on each hanging notch 12 has a pair of catching points 11 built upon the opening opposite sides respectively, and there are several retaining holes 14 set upon the circumference; said top static rib-hub 1 has a cap 16 covering on the top side, via said retaining holes 14 the cap 16 is fastened on top side of the top static rib-hub 1 with screws.

Via the connecting hole 13, the top static rib-hub 1 is retained on the tip end of said main stick 7. Said main stick 7 has an opened bottom end and a pair of axial opposite through slots 71 built upon the side wall, and a securing hole 72 drilled on the center of the blind end for securing said top static rib-hub 1 with the connecting hole 13.

Said main stick 7 is put on with a low sliding rib-hub 2 at the outside, a joint screw 23, crossing the diameter of the low sliding rib-hub 2 and passing through the two axial slots 71, connects the opposite two points of the low sliding rib-hub 2 to hold it on the main stick 7 in sliding fit; said low sliding rib-hub 2 is a collar with proper number of hanging notches 22 built upon the rim in uniform distribution, on each hanging notch 22 has a pair of catching points 21 built upon the opening opposite sides respectively.

Said main stick 7 is attached with an elastic piece 5, in which the top end is fixed on said joint screw 23 and the bottom end on the second joint screw 73. As striking the tent, said elastic piece 5 will pull the low sliding rib-hub 2 from the top end of the axial slots 71 of the main stick 7 to the bottom along the slots 71 under the restoring force until the tent is completely opened automatically. As pitching or striking the tent, said low sliding rib-hub 2 slides down or up along the axial slots 71, which works as guiding slots, meanwhile prevents the low sliding rib-hub 2 from turning, further to avoid the braces 3 yawing.

Additionally, said main stick 7 has a bottom cap 74, which is secured on the open end of the main stick 7 by the second joint screw 73; said cap 74 has a hook 75 built upon the bottom end for tying on the rope Al connecting to the top-end of the awnings A.

By catching the first segment 41A into the notches 12 with said catching points 11 respectively latching into pivot recesses set upon the tip end of the first segment 41A, the rib 4 is pivoted on said top static rib-hub 1 separately; a pivot base 412 is built upon the middle of the first segment 41A for pivoting with one end of the brace 3, and the another end of the brace 3 built with pivot recesses 31 at the tip sides respectively is pivoted on the notch 22 of the low sliding rib-hub 2 by inserting into the space between the both catching points 21; said brace 3 can be made of elastic Nylon or glass-fiber. Said first segments 41A construct ribs 4 by connecting with other segments.

Said connection of adjacent segments is commonly divided into two kinds, one is dual-pivot connector used for connecting the first and second segments 41A 41B, as shown in FIG. 7, thereby creates a striking angle so as to reduce the torsion force between the segments of the rib 41 and to facilitate to strike other segments; on the other hand, said connector 8 may provide the folding space for the third segment 41C.

Referring to FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the another kind of connector 6 used for connecting the second and the third segments 41B 41C include the first coupling piece 61 set upon the tip end of the second segment 41B and the second coupling piece 62 on the third segment 41C.

Said first coupling piece 61 has an open slot with a pair of retaining holes 611 on the side walls built upon the outer end, and a pair of projected steps 612 built upon the insides of side walls of the open slot from the round of the retaining holes 611 to the inner.

Said second coupling piece 62 can be plugged into the open slot of the first coupling piece 61, and has a long slotted hole 621 pivoted on the retaining holes 611 of the first coupling piece 61 via a pivot pin 63; said second coupling piece 62 has a couple of catching beds 622 built upon the both sides below said long slotted hole 621 for touching against the projected steps 612 of the first coupling piece 61.

Said connector 6 can be pivoted on with the first and the second coupling pieces 61 62 for folding or unfolding them.

Referring to FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, in this embodiment said rib 4 is consisted of four segments, for not increasing the folded volume of the tent the present invention utilizes a method: in which the last two segments—the third and the fourth segments 41C 41′ are connected in contraction joint as a telescopic jib. The detail as follows:

The third segment is a tube as same as others, but on the bottom side a square tube adapter 91 is fastened by fastening screw S, on the side wall the adapter 91 has a setting hole 911 for containing a spring 912 and a dog 913 at inside; the last segment 41′ is fit over the adapter 91 (applying square fitting is used for preventing them from relatively turning, certainly if applying other non-circle fitting it is possible), for preventing them from sliding off a bushing 92 is attached on the top end of the last segment 41′ by catching the projected lugs 921 of the bushing 92 into the coordinating holes of the last segment 41′, coordinating to the dog 913 on the adapter 91 the last segment 41′ has a through-hole 419′ drilled on the side wall.

After assembling said third segment 41C and the last segment 41′, the adapter 91 of the third segment 41C is embedded into the inside of the last segment 41′ below the bushing 92 located on the top end of the last segment 41′ so as to prevent the third segment 41C sliding off from the inside of the last segment 41′; on the other hand, said dog 912 extended out from the setting hole 911 under the pushing force from the spring 912 is also extended out from the through-hole 419′ for locating the both segments.

When striking the present invention, as shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 13, firstly close the last two segments 41C 41′ of each rib 4 by pressing the dog 913 into the inside of the last segment 41′ and sliding the two segment 41C 41′ relatively until the third segment 41C completely slides into the inside of the last segment 41′; then press all the first segments 41A of the ribs 4 down to the main stick 7, meanwhile the braces 3 are pressed too to turn an angle so that the low sliding rib-hub 2 is pushed upward along the main stick 7, because the joint screw 23 connects to the low sliding rib-hub 2 and the top end of the elastic piece 5, so the elastic piece 5 is stretched to save some restoring energy; next draw the second and the third segments 41B 41C out relatively a certain distance respectively and turn back around the pivot pin 93, then turn the second and the third segment closed with the last segments 41′ 41B 41C around the connector 6 to fold up all the ribs 4, finally wrap the awnings A around the folded ribs 4 and tie up or place into a box, so the bell tent is stricken.

When tenting to pitch the bell tent, as shown in FIG. 8, pick up the folded tent from the tent box, and lay on the ground, the tensile elastic piece 5 will restore the original state, so the low sliding rib-hub 2 is pulled down along the main stick 7 to bring one ends of the braces 3 moving down and the another ends spreading upward to brace the ribs 4; then draw out the last segments 41′ of ribs 4 individually until the dog 913 of the third segment 41C catches into the through-hole 419′ under the pressing force from the spring 912 in locating position; then turn all the segments 41A 41B 41C respectively around the connectors 6 8, and push all the segments 41 in locating positions; finally, fix the bottom ends of the last segments 41′ to the rim of the awnings A with securing screw, so the full bell tent is pitched.

Referring to FIG. 8, it is showing the first segments 41A are braced by the braces 3, but in practicing, the first segments 41A and the braces 3 are crowned under the force of the elastic piece 5 to improve the struts to all the first segments 41A so that the tent is braced completely without any falling down, and not need to attach any holding device, and the service life is increased greatly. 

1. A bell folding tent typically comprised of awnings and framework consisted of poles, wherein the framework includes a top static rib-hub built upon the top end of a main stick setting on the center vertically, and hanged on with radial ribs, which is combined of several segments and connectors connecting said adjacent segments together, a low sliding rib-hub put on the main stick in sliding fitting for hanging up one ends of braces, the another ends of said braces pivoted on the first segments of the ribs respectively; an elastic piece is set upon the main stick between said low sliding rib-hub with the top end and the bottom end of the main stick with the low end.
 2. A bell folding tent as claimed in claim 1, wherein said main stick is a tube with an open bottom end, a pair of axial opposite through slots are built upon the side wall, whereby said low sliding rib-hub is attached on the main stick with a joint screw setting on the low sliding rib-hub over the diameter crossing the two axial slots; said elastic piece is set on the hollow cave of said main stick, and fastened on the joint screw with the top end.
 3. A bell folding tent as claimed in claim 2, wherein a bottom cap is used for setting on the open bottom end of the main stick with another joint screw; meanwhile the low end of the elastic piece is fastened on the bottom cap at the bottom end of the main stick by the joint screw too.
 4. A bell folding tent as claimed in claim 1, wherein a connector connecting the second and third segments of rib includes the first coupling piece and the second coupling piece, within the first coupling piece has an open slot with a pair of retaining holes on the side walls built upon the outer end, said second coupling piece can be plugged into the open slot of the first coupling piece, and has a long slotted hole pivoted on the retaining holes of the first coupling piece via a pivot pin; said first coupling piece extends a pair of projected steps built upon the insides of side walls of the open slot from the round of the retaining holes to the inner; said second coupling piece has a couple of catching beds built upon the both sides below said long slotted hole for touching against the projected steps of the first coupling piece.
 5. A bell folding tent as claimed in claim 2, wherein a connector connecting the second and third segments of rib includes the first coupling piece and the second coupling piece, within the first coupling piece has an open slot with a pair of retaining holes on the side walls built upon the outer end, said second coupling piece can be plugged into the open slot of the first coupling piece, and has a long slotted hole pivoted on the retaining holes of the first coupling piece via a pivot pin; said first coupling piece extends a pair of projected steps built upon the insides of side walls of the open slot from the round of the retaining holes to the inner; said second coupling piece has a couple of catching beds built upon the both sides below said long slotted hole for touching against the projected steps of the first coupling piece.
 6. A bell folding tent as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second segments are connected by a dual-pivot connector.
 7. A bell folding tent as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first and second segments are connected by a dual-pivot connector.
 8. A bell folding tent as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rib is combined of four segments, the last two segments are in contraction joint as telescoping jib, and a locating device set upon the both parts for preventing them from slipping relatively.
 9. A bell folding tent as claimed in claim 2, wherein said rib is combined of four segments, the last two segments are in contraction joint as telescoping jib, and a locating device set upon the both parts for preventing them from slipping relatively.
 10. A bell folding tent as claimed in claim 6, wherein said locating device is comprised of a spring and catcher set upon the inside of the inner segment, and a hole corresponding to the catchers built upon the outer segment. 